Asian Community Mental Health Services

Since 1974, Asian Community Mental Health Services (ACMHS) has pioneered mental health approaches that are consumer-need driven and community-based to provide a safety net of services for Asian Pacific Islander (API) immigrants and refugees facing cultural, economic and linguistic barriers as they move toward full recovery and fullest potentials in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Each year, ACMHS serves over 3,000 API consumers whose ages range from very young children to the elderly. Most families’ incomes are below poverty level. About 80% are on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other forms of public benefits. 80% of our consumers reside in Central Alameda County and the City of Oakland.

ACMHS’ experienced professional staff numbering 120 provides wrap-around services tailored specifically to APIs in fourteen languages and dialects: English, Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Mien, Nepalese, Tagalog, Toisanese, and Vietnamese. ACMHS’ culturally competent delivery system of specialized services includes Behavioral Health Care Services and Developmental Disabilities Services ACMHS has built alliances among diverse sectors and has working relationships with every major system service providers including the schools, social services, primary health, developmentally disabilities, probation, public housing, economic development, and other community based organizations. Dedication to excellence, personalized care and commitment to helping Asian Pacific Islanders lead healthy, productive lives are the cornerstones upon which ACMHS continues to build its reputation. In the process, ACMHS has gained the confidence of its consumers and the API community and the respect of the care-giving profession.

Behavioral Health Care Services
Infant and Preschool Children Services provide children age 0-6 with social, emotional and school readiness support through outreach, screening, education, assessment, early intervention, and treatment which include home based parent and child psychotherapy, weekly developmental playgroups with joint parenting classes, mental health consultations and interventions in preschool classrooms, family service coordination, and referrals to county and city services.

Substance Abuse Services foster alcohol and drug free life styles to improve the ability of clients to live productively and independently. The educational outreach program addresses the impact of alcohol and drug abuse on mental and physical health, individual and family relationships, the social, economic and mental well-being of individuals and their families.

Developmental Disabilities Services meet the needs of primarily monolingual developmental disabled APIs and their families, who are offered case management, socialization and independent living skills, parent training on self-advocacy skills, resource development and support. The goal is to promote normalization and consumer involvement as individuals develop to their fullest potential and live as independently as possible.

ACMHS also offers 10-12 months full-time internships and part-time practicum training to graduate program students preparing to become social workers, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists. In addition, we provide postgraduate training to recent graduates interested in developing culturally appropriate behavioral health care competencies.